RC.

Ch10 ........... K

Keep reading slowly...

We're home..

I look at myself in the mirror. My mascara has run, my hair is a mess and my eyes are puffy.

Looks like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards!

We drive to my house in silence. Me, huddled into the passenger seat of the Aston Martin.

I looked out of the window as we drove through the streets, pensive . What a night!...

I grab a towel and wrap my hair in it. I take off my soaking wet clothes and my underwear.

As I cross the living room to get some dry clothes, Ryan is sat on the sofa looking at something on his mobile.

Every time I see him, with that look of concentration on his face, I can't help but scrutinise him ...

R:"Do you want me to run you a hot bath?"

T:"No, it's okay, I'll just put something dry on."

He nods at me briefly before delving back into his work.

Once in front of my closet, I mechanically put on a pair of thin, lace panties and a kind of loose tee shirt.

I unfold the towel and gently dry my hair whilst heading back to the living room.

If someone had told me the great Ryan Carter would one day be sitting here in my modest apartment, I would never have belived it!

Yet it's true. The world's sexiest golden boy is here. In my home.

(It's surreal.)

And...

(It's exhilarating.)

He puts his phone down on the table and beckons me over to him, opening his arms wide.

I put my towel down on a kitchen stool and walk towards him.

Ditchy is awake and lets us know with his usual twitter.

T:"Don't worry, it's just my hamster."

R:"Oh."

T:"Sorry, my apartment is very small and you're going to have to bear the very Ditchy's very discreet noises."

While I settle on his lap, my arms around his neck, he looks at me sideways.

R:"Your apartment is fine and your hamster seems nice. I had one when I was a kid."

Seriously?

T:"Really?"

R:"Yes, his name was Looping, it was an absolutely unbearable little rodent who spend his time chewing all my electric wires."

T:"Mmh ... Ditchy prefers to eat my tasty recipes."

R:" He has expensive taste."

He forces a giggle out of me. It's true that I've let him become accustomed to it. That's why he's so fat now!

Ryan gently strokes my naked thigh and looks me straight in the eye.

Good God, in those moments there is only him. I could lose myself in this hypnotic grey land.

R:"My team of hackers is moving forward, and there'll soon be some new developments, I have to take stock of the situation with them tomorrow afternoon."

T:"Okay..."

I stare the fabric of my sofa. For some reason this news leaves me indifferent.

I think I'm too upset to take in any new information.

As if Ryan was reading my thoughts, he gently shakes his knees. I frown.

R:"Hey, trust me. Everything will be alright. I'll never let them hurt you again, okay?"

I sigh heavily staring into space. He shouldn't promise me things he can't fulfil.

Ryan lays a kiss of my cheek.

R:"Are you hungry?"

T:"No..."

R:"You have to eat ..."

I snuggled up against him.

I don't want to leave his arms. This moment of intimacy. I need some calm after the storm and before the next...

T:"I prefer to stay like this, snuggled up against you ..."

R:"Okay..."

I lay my head in the hollow of his neck and I relax up against his.

He's still wearing his suit. I didn't even ask if he wanted to get comfortable.

T:"Do you really think Jake has something to do with all this ...?"

I feel his broad chest lifting up and down slowly.

R:"I don't know Tayla ... I also have a hard time believing it... But ... I learnt to be wary."

The prospect that Jake is involved in any way whatsoever hurts me. I trusted him.

T:"Why would he have saved me tonight?"

Ryan puts his forehead against mine.

R:"There's a difference between making bad choices and hurting you directly."

R:"Maybe he hasn't measured the extend of his actions, or maybe he's totally innocent."

I gently rub my forehead against his neck to bury myself deeper in its hollow. I feel the regular rhythm of the blood pulsing through his veins.

T:"How long has he been working for you?"

R:"For years, he was one of the few people I trusted."

How sad! ... It must be exhausting to be in Ryan's place, never being able to trust anyone.

R:"You know, I've seen how he looks at you."

My body tenses. Jake's advances come to mind. Who knows how Ryan would react if he knew everything!

T:"How he looks at me?"

R:"Yes, you've been in his good books and from the beginning he's been worried about you, I sometimes wonder if he's still my bodyguard or yours ..."

R:"I'm not an idiot, I've seen the effect you have on men."

This time I can't help but burst out laughing!

T:"The effect I have on men?! Ryan, be serious!"

He pinches me at the waist.

T:"Ouch!"

R:"What did I tell you?"

His paternalistic tone surprises me at the same time touches me.

T:"What? Why are you pinching me?"

R:"You mustn't put yourself down, Tayla. There are many men who'd like to have you for themselves. I'm a lucky guy."

(Now I've heard everything!)

(You're overestimating me.)

T:"I'm not putting myself down! You're the one who's putting me on a pedestal."

R:"Mmh ... Of course ... That must be why all the guys who come across you behave like knights in shining armour."

R:"But ... do know this, ma'am, the only knight who has the right to take you on his white horse, and wherever he pleases, is me!"

T:"Oh !"

I nudge him in the side to get my own back on his chauvinistic remark!

His laughter fills the room at the same time as my heart.

R:"Anyway. You stay put whilst I fix us something to eat."

Ryan gets up in spite of my disapproving pout, and heads with his usual grace towards my kitchen.

This is my field but Ryan has the right to enter. He takes off his jacket, undoes his tie and pulls up his sleeves. I never tire of watching him ...